Morocco gained independence
from France ended in 1956 and the internationalized city
of Tangier was turned over to the new country that same
year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the
late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory
remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s
resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature
in 1997.

The capital city is Rabat,
Arabic (official), the official currency is the Moroccan
Dirham, and French, other languages are spoken.

A population 30,120,000 live
in 37 provinces (increasing in number all the time) within
446,300 sq km (172,316 sq miles).

Morocco has a primarily Mediterranean
climate that becomes more extreme towards the interior.
At 32 00 N, 05 00 W.

The northern coast and interior
are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus,
intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains - the lowest
point is Sebkha Tah -55 m and the highest is Jebel Toubkal
4,165 m.